On June 1, 2025, Scripps Health officially opened its striking new North Tower at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, a gleaming 420,000-square-foot, eight-story structure that marks a pivotal advancement in regional healthcare.
In the early hours of opening day, a dedicated task force—physicians, nurses, and support staff—coordinated the transfer of approximately 130 patients, including expectant mothers and newborns, from the older Browning Building. This complex move, executed through secure indoor corridors, prioritized patient comfort and continuity of care.
The tower’s mother‑baby wing spans three floors, complete with 18 private labor rooms (five set aside for high-risk antepartum care), two C-section suites, a 24‑bed NICU, 38 postpartum suites, soaking tubs, a boutique space, and wireless monitoring for enhanced patient mobility and experience. With around 3,200 births at Scripps La Jolla each year, this expansion ensures next‑generation maternal and neonatal support.
Beyond maternity, the North Tower increases total licensed beds from 426 to 495 and adds 188 new inpatient beds. Key infrastructure includes nine operating rooms (two equipped for robotic surgery), an enhanced imaging center, three interventional radiology suites, and three neurointerventional units featuring bi‑plane imaging systems for stroke and aneurysm treatment.
Designed with input from medical professionals and architects, the tower prioritizes natural light through floor-to-ceiling windows, eco-calming color schemes, and private rooms with family-friendly features, such as pull-out couches and in-room LCD diagnostic displays. It also introduces decentralized nursing stations, streamlined access to supplies, and a three-tiered wireless network to support both clinical and personal use.
Safety was paramount: the tower complies with seismic standards. It incorporates advanced HEPA-filtered airflows in operating rooms, making it the first hospital on the West Coast to deliver such filtration, which minimizes airborne risks. A rooftop helipad is directly connected to the trauma center below, ensuring rapid transport for emergency arrivals.
The new William W. and Barbara Smith Cafeteria, funded by a $2.5 million gift, offers healthy dining for patients, staff, and visitors. Philanthropist Barbara Smith’s contribution continues her legacy in supporting Scripps’ mission.
